We're talking about a time where internet technology will make obsolete the need for us to download in install games. We pay for a license and play them over the net using a client of some kind. The next Steam revolution perhaps?

I think 8 years is a tall order though. I'm not sure if internet technology will get there in time, let alone if one company wields enough influence and resources to develop the client application.

It actually already exists, even if it hasn't taken commercial flight yet.
There's Onlive

http://www.onlive.com/

and Gaikai

http://www.gaikai.com/

The idea is pretty ingenious, especially if you can really rent a game for 3-5 days for less than 10 bucks/neuro/quid, since most AA games are over so quickly that it really isn't worth it buying them.

I guess its part of the normal evolution to simplify the experience for the end customer. Looking forward to it.

I don't like the idea of losing control of the game. Steam's already stolen my control to some extent. And the on-demand game services have issues with lag and, of course, they require an active internet connection. Even Steam has that issue to some degree. Don't try to log out of steam with no internet connection... you can't get back in again, even in offline mode.

What I'd rather see is the option to do the gaming through a service like onlive, but retain local installs if you desire, and allow transfer of games like a second sale market. Previous experience has proven that allowing resale of items actually increases their worth... people take resale into account when they purchase something, and are thus more likely to spend more on it. You take away that right, you lose that value. I've found myself not very willing to buy games on Steam at full price, partially for this reason. I still find myself willing to pay full price for a box, though.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to more options, but don't want to lose my freedoms at the same time.

Hehe, satis, it is time to let go of the "hoarding" mentality. .

haha, maybe that's what it is. I do actually give away my old games on a regular basis, believe it or not. I have more games not installed on Steam than I have sitting on CDs/DVDs at home.